The African Center for Biosafety, lead by Mariam Mayet, has expressed serious concerns about a new proposed draft legal framework that substantially and adversely impacts the rights of small famers in Africa. According to Mayet: “The legal framework will not only facilitate the theft of African germplasm and privatization of seed breeding. It will ensure the unhindered creation of a commercial seed market, where the types of seeds on offer are restricted to commercially protected varieties within a context where farmers’ rights to freely use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed are seriously eroded.”

According to Michael Farrelly from the Tanzania Alliance for Biodiversity, “the proposed ARIPO law does not take into account the 4.8 million smallholder farmers in Tanzania who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, with the vast majority using farm saved seed to ensure their food security. The proposed legal framework is intent on handing over Tanzania’s food and seed sovereignty to foreign corporations, reducing the availability of local plant varieties, weakening Tanzania’s rich biodiversity, and denying millions of farmers the right to breed and share crops needed to feed their families.”

“We are deeply disappointed with ARIPO for adopting the UPOV 1991-style PVP law and completely ignoring the African ModelLegislation for the Protection of the Rights of Local Communities, Farmers and Breeders. The Model law is much more appropriate in meeting the needs of ARIPO member states in addressing poverty and the challenges of climate change” said Moses Mulumba from Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) in Uganda.

“It is unimaginable that ARIPO could facilitate and encourage African governments to adopt a comprehensive UPOV 1991 law without first ensuring that all stakeholders are thoroughly consulted. Before any further action or decision is taken, it is essential for ARIPO to undertake comprehensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders and desist from rushing governments into adopting the draft legislation.” said Andrew Mushita from the Community Technology Development Trust, Zimbabwe.

The ARIPO Administrative Council is expected to meet in Zanzibar on 26-30th November 2012 to discuss inter alia the legal framework and decide whether ARIPO should join UPOV 1991. Decisions will also be made with regard to ARIPO’s regional office granting and administering of PVP centrally.

Civil Society groups in Africa, reiterate their calls on ARIPO member states to:

Reject the development of the ARIPO PVP legal framework on the basis of UPOV 1991 and for ARIPO states not to join UPOV;

Support the development of a legal framework that acknowledges the contribution of farmers as breeders and upholds and promotes the customary practices of small-scale farmers;

Reject the development of a legal framework based on a “one grant system” (whereby the ARIPO office has the power to grant and administer breeders’ rights on behalf of all the Contracting states);

Provide adequate opportunities for consultations with farmers, farmer movements and civil society organizations before any further work is undertaken; and

Make available publicly all information with regard to the process and timelines involved in developing the draft regional policy and legal framework.